Riverina coach Trent Ball believes the zone re-emerged after its outstanding weekend performance in the NSW Country Championship.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
IN OTHER NEWS:
- Weilandt to hit Western Australia for national championships
- Corryong sign former premiership player as coach
- Apprentice takes home regional title
The team toppled long-time powerhouses ACT Southern Districts and Western in Goulburn, while the loss of three quick wickets cost it any realistic hope of overcoming Greater Illawarra.
The Wollongong-based outfit will now play Newcastle in Sunday's grand final.
Riverina finished third of the eight zones and Ball was quizzed if the carnival signals Riverina is back.
"I hope so, I really think it will," he said.
In the four previous titles, Riverina had just the three wins and nine losses, including two winless campaigns.
"There were a couple of reasons (for our three losses) last year, we got together late and it was a bit of a battle," Ball said.
"I've no doubt when we can get the best 20 players from here (Albury-Wodonga), Wagga and Griffith, we can do anything.
"To win two games was awesome."
Drew Cameron was playing his fifth successive campaign and says, at times, Riverina has lacked belief against the much larger centres like Newcastle, Canberra, Wollongong and the Central Coast.
"There have been times where we thought we were out of our depth," he said.
"But the weekend just goes to show the Riverina is up there with them.
"We probably had too much belief in our chase against Illawarra and that's why we were 3-10 because a couple of the boys played really confident shots to really good balls and got out."
Captain and opening batsman Tom Johnson scored 41 against ACT and 69 in the superb chase against Western's imposing 8-234 to claim the prestigious Robbie Jackson Medal.
"Tom is right up there with the best in CAW, his shot selection against Western was the biggest thing," Cameron said.
Johnson has previously played South Australia Country.
"There were a lot of players that looked like they'd be ahead of me," he said of potential NSW Country selection.
Ball claims Tallangatta import Fraser Ellis could be a bolter.
"I knew he was good, I didn't think he was this good, he could do anything," Ball enthused.
The paceman claimed 4-74.
"From the start of the season he's come a long way," Johnson said.
"He bowled well at the start and end of the innings."
Riverina has claimed the NSW Country title once in its 35 years with Jackson and Greg Daniel in 2002-03.